Electrolytic cell



July 1%, 31929. i -QH s sucK ET AL ELECTROLYTIC CELL- O riginal FiledDe. 5, 1925 ZSheets-Shget Swen tow Euznk Jf, flack, Phil abkoznu d July16, .1929.

F. H. BUCK ET AL ELECTROLYT I C CELL 2 sheets-sheet Original Filed Dec.5, 1925 gwuentoxd Hank Ji'fiuclc,

Phili}? JTclia, p WM atmmw Patented July 16, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BUCK AND PHILIP MCRAE, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO THEJESSUP & MOORE PAPER 00.,01 PHILAD OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Original application filed December 5, 1925, Serial No.'73,447. Dividedand this Q 8, 1927. Serial No. 173,731.

This application is a divisional of my pendingapplication SerialNo.73,447, filed December 5, 1925. y

Our present invention relates to a cell 10 the electrolytic type whichis adapted to the production of caustic soda and other products, such aschlorine and hydrogen.

. While the cell of this invention is particularlyadapted for theproduction of those re:

agents, yet obviously, it may be used in the electrolysis of manmaterials.

Theprincipal ob]ect' of the invention is the provision of a cell ofthe"above type which will have a maximum capacity for a minimum cell volumein order that a given amount of floor space may be utilized for as largea number of cells as possible, and where a compact design reduces theinternal resist ance to a minimum,thus increasing the power efliciency.

To this end the invention includes a cell casing of any desired materialadapted to support a cathode in the form of a perforated 'iron zbaskehwhich cathodeis also rovided with an inner portion upstanding rom thebottom of the main basket and spaced from the basket side walls. Theinside of the outer cathode basket and the outside of the inner;

cathode cage are'lined with-asbestos or other material serving as adiaphragm, which when assembled, forms two channels into which anodeslabs of graphite or the like are inserted, the slabs being spaced fromthe walls of the cathode and from each other so as to allow thorough.circulation of the electrolyte as well as to increase the anode surface.A suitable head is provided adapted to clam between itself and the cellcasing the cathod;

and the-diaphragm in a gas tight joint. The

40 head forms what may be called a gas cham-- her from whichthegaseousproducts-of the electrolytic action may be removed for anydesiredpurpose. An additional outlet is provided for the gaseousproducts collecting in the '-space*between-the= cathode and the cellcasing, and 'still another outlet at the bottom of the casing for liquidproducts, from which outlet they may be conducted toany desiredlocation. Means are also provided for automatically feeding in theelectrolyte so as to ELPHIA QPENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION nnncrnomzrrcCELL.

application filed larch.

maintain a constant electrolyte level in order that the operation of thecell may be continuous. v

The invention further includes an outer cathode in which the shorter endwalls are removabletherefrom, as well as the inner cathode cage, so asto facilitate the placing of new and the removal of old diaphra msthereto. g

The invention further consists of the novel arrangement, constructionand combination of parts hereinaftershown and described,

\Ve'have illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment of ourinvention,

in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation.-

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig: 1. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation of the device :of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a detail of the outer cathode basket. 7

Fig. 5 is a detail of the inner cathode cage.

Referring now with particularity tothe drawings, our invention is shownto consist of an outer cell casing designated at 1, which may be of anydesired material, which is suitably mounted upon insulators 2 restingupon blocks or pedestals 3.

At the upper edges of the side walls of the casing l we provide angleironst suitably bolted to the Wall of the casing 1, which are adapted tosupport a flange 5 on the side walls of the outer cathode basket,indicated genorally at 6. a

The outer cathode member is composed of sheets of perforated metal,preferably iron, in the present instance, welded together to form anopen topped container or basket hav i-ng flanges 5 at its upper ends,which flanges are adapted to rest upon and be supported by the angleirons 4.

The outer cathode member is provided with removable-end walls 42 adaptedto be made secure to the longitudinal walls 43 by engagement withflanges 44, and bolted thereto.

Within the outer cathode member is located an inner cathode member orcage indicated generally at 7, which also consists of sheets ofperforated iron' Welded together'to form substantially a cage. Securedinside the cage cathode 7 we provide a section of U beam 8,

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an: (LIL-i which beam is provided withbolts 53* extending throughthebottom of the cathodecage 7. Thebolts 9 are adapted to projectthrough corresponding apertures 10 in thecathode basket 6 and a'similarsection of U'beam 11 applied to the bottom of the basketfi where uponnuts 12 may be used to bolt the basket and the cage together to formsubstantially a unitary structure. 7

Similar bolts 40 are provided in the end walls 39 of this inner cathodecage and which project through apertures 41 in the removable end walls42 of the cathode basket 6.

A diaphragm 13 of sheet asbestos or the like, is to be applied to theinside of the oath ode basket/6 and the outside ofthe cathode cage 7,asby means of sodium silicate or the like, so that the entire surface ofthe electrolyte containing channel is covered by said diaphragm.

By making the end walls 42 of the cathode basket removable, theapplication of the dia- 3 form or concrete or the like, and is adaptedto be superimposed upon the upper edges of the basket cathode 6 so thatthe lower edges.

of thegas head 15 rest directl upon the diaphragm 13 wliich over-lapsthe bus bars 14. The lower edges of the gas head 15 are cut away as at16, and this channel is adapted to be filled with any desired kind ofacidprooi cement sothat when the head is placed upon the bus bars 14 thecement within the channel will make a fiuid'tight resistant joint atthat point: I v

The gas head which we have found advantageouscon'sists of a box, open atthe bottom and to ,the top of which is adapted to be closed y sectioncovers 17, 18 and 19, resting upon a shoulder 20 at the upper edges ofthe gas head walls. The center section cover 18 is provided with aclean-out opening 21. It is understood that all of the joints in the gashead are adapted to be sealed, not necessarily permanently, with acement of any desired character, which is well known in this art, so asto prevent the escape of any gaseous products of the electrolysis.

The anode element of the present cell consists principally of aplurality of carbon slabs 22 which are supported upon the section covers17, 18, and 19 by means of pins 23 passing through the slabs, the slabsproper proiecting through suitable apertures in the head 15 is provided,

cover section's and extending into the space between the basket and cagecathodes nearly to the bottom thereof, and spaced from the walls thereofb means of the rubber stops 24. The upper en s of the anode slabs arecon nected together as by means of the positive bus bar 25, to whichcurrent is supplied as desired. p

Supported upon an L-iron 26 secured to the outside wall of the cellcasing is a float container 27 which is adapted to receive the float 28having a stopper or valve 29 connected thereto to control the flow ofelectrolyte supplied through the inlet 3t. valve is adapted to maintaina constant level in the float receptacle 27 said electrolyte flowingfrom the float receptacle into the interior of the cell through theaperture 31.

A gas ofltake 32 penetrating one of the section covers 19, is providedfor conducting away the chlorine produced as a result of the desiredreaction, said otltake being connected witha main conduit 33.

Y A pipe 34; is also secured in the wall of the casing 1 so' as to takecare of any gaseous products liberated on the outside of the diaphragm13, that is, between the diaphragm and theouter cell casing. This pipe34 also connects with a conduit 35 so that the gases thus produced maybe taken away.

The cell casing proper, 1, is provided with a trap 36 through which theliquid material produced as a result of the reaction may flow, a ditch37 conducting this materialto the desired location.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A saturated solution ofsodium chloride is fed through the inlet 30 untilthe level of elec trolyte in the cathode has risen well up into the gashead. Owing to the fact that the cathode basket'and cage are lined withan asbestos diaphragm, the electrolyte will not sodium chloridemigratesthrough the diavphragin covering the basket and cage cathodes,to the cathode, and is there lib- I erated, and as soon as liberated,reacts with the water present to form causticsoda and hydrogen. Thehydrogen being on the casing side'of the diaphragm, passes through theperforated cathode and out of the pipe 34 provided' for that purpose.The liquid caustic soda drips from the bottom of the basket cathodeandpasses out of the trap36 into the drain or ditch 37;

The action is continuous by reason of the fact that the float 28 allowsthe valve 29 to be 4 each chamber.

2. An. electrolytic cell comprising a conshorter dimensions.

tainer, an outer cathode basket therein, an inner cathode cagewithin thebasket, said cathode basket having removable end walls,

said cathode cagebeing of the full length of the cathode basket, theside walls of the cage abutting the end-walls of the basket, twoelectrolyte chambers between cage and basket, diaphragms lining saidchambers and an anode extending into'each chmaber.

3, ''An electrolytic cell' comprising a con- ,tainer,-a perforatedcathode therein comprising four vertical parallel walls, removable endwalls at right angles thereto secured to p the ends of the verticalwalls thus forming three parallel'1chambers,'means to feed theelectrolyte to the two outside chambers, diaphragms lining the saidchambers and 'anodes dipping into thedutsid'e chambers.- V 4. Anelectrolytic cell comprising. a container, a cathode suspended therein,said electrolyte chambers,

cathode comprising-two spaced apart parallel. electrolytecontainmg'chambers, a diaphragm lining each chamber, the four sides andbottom of each chamber being active, a chamber "free from electrolytelocated between' the Ind anodes projecting into the elect-r01 techambers".

55Anelectro tic cell-comprising a. con-' -tainer', a catho e suspendedtherein, said cathode comprising parallelelectrolyte containingchambers, .a diaphragm lining each "if chamber, anactive cathode .wallseparating said chambers, a gas head supported-upon if the outer walls'of the cathode, the division wall of the' cathode terminating short ofthe lyte, and. anodes top of the gas chamber top, the-divsion wall beingadapted to be submerged in the electroprojecting into the electrolytechambers.

- 6. An electrolytic cell-comprising a container, a cathode therein,sai'd cathode com- )rising parallel'electrolyte containing chamers, adiaphragm lining'each chamber, an active cathode division therebetweencom 'rising a substantially inverted U portion-o the full lengthofthe'electrolyte chambers, end walls closing the electrolyte chambe'ig;and inverted U portion, agas head supported upon the outer walls of theelectrolyte chambers, and anodes projecting into said chambers.

7. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode thereincomprising spaced apart electrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragmlining each' chamber, spaced apart dividing cathode walls between theelectrolyte chambers, one dividing Wall comprising one wall of anelectrolyte chamber, the two' spaced apart dividing walls being closedat the top, a diaphragm covering the electrolyte chambers and dividingwalls and top, common end walls closing the electrolyte chambers anddividing walls, and anodes project ing into the electrolyte chambers.

8. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode thereincomprising spaced apart electrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragmlining each chamber, a chamber free from electrolyte of the full lengthof the electrolyte chambers and located between the 'said electrolytechambers, end walls closing said chambers, a gas headsupported upon theouter walls of the cathode and anodes projecting into the electrolytechambers.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode thereincomprising spaced apart longitudinal walls forming two spaced apartelectrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragm lining-each chamber, saidchambers being closed 'byactive bottom and end Walls, acentrallongitudinal chamber gof the full length' of the electrolytechambers, and closed at the top, a gas head resting upon the outer wallsof the cathode, the electrolyte cl1am-' bers being non-communicative as'to the electrolyte until the level of the electrol te rises above thecentral longitudinal chain er, and

gpodesprojecting into the electrolyte chamrs.

10. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer cathode basket, an innercathode cage within the basket and of the full len h'thereof, two

electrolyte chambers 'forme by the corresponding walls-of the cathodemembers lined with a diaphragm and anodes extending into each chamberand means beneath the cathode to receive liquid efiluent drippingtherefrom.

. 111 An electrolytic cell comprising an outer cathode basket, and innercathode cage with in the basket, the cathode-basket having removable.end walls,.said cathode cag'e being the full length of the cathodebasket, the side walls of the cage abutting the ends walls of thebasket, two electrolyte chambers between the cage and the basket, adiaphragm lining therefor and. anodes extending into each chamber andmeans beneath the cathode to receive liquid effluent dripping therefrom.

12. 'An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode forming two-spaced apartparallel electrolyte containin chambers, a diaphragm lining therefor,the our sides and bottom of each chamber being active, a chamber freefrom electrolyte located between the electrotherefrom.

18. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode having spaced apartelectrolyte conmining chambers, a diaphragm lining-therefor, a chamberfree from electrolyte of the full length of the electrolyte chambers,and

located between the said electrolyte chemv bers end walls closing saidchamhers, a gas head supported upon the outerwells of the cathodes, andanodes projecting into the elec trolyte chambers and means beneath thecathode to receive liquid efluent dripping therefrom.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signaturesi FRANK H. BUCK. PHILIPMoRAE.

